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Huey's new home: Veterans park in Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES — Restoration of a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter is almost complete and the aircraft is anticipated to be mounted above the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial Monument, at Veterans Memorial Park, in mid-January.

Huey's new home: Veterans park in Las Cruces

A UH-1H Iroquis — more commonly referred to as a Huey — it transported Thursday from the Santa Teresa International Jetport to Las Cruces. The chopper will be restored and eventually placed at the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park.(Photo: Fred Hess / Courtesy photo)

LAS CRUCES — Restoration of a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter is almost complete and the aircraft is anticipated to be mounted above the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial Monument, at Veterans Memorial Park, in mid-January.

"It's going to be magnificent," said Anthony Moreno, who served in Vietnam from August 1968 until December 1970. "Those birds meant so much to so many of us while we were there. They were our lifeline, to get us into combat or to take us away from harm. Those Hueys have a special meaning to just about every Vietnam vet. I'm excited that this monument is finally going to get it put up."

The approximately 4,000-pound helicopter was removed Thursday from its hangar at War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa and was hoisted onto a special trailer that brought the vintage helicopter to Las Cruces. The 45-foot helicopter was transported on Interstate 10 to the Mesquite exit, where it was then taken to a facility on South Main Street, where it will be kept temporarily until it can be erected above the Vietnam monument.

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Jim Harbison, foreground, and Jay Lloyd strap a Huey on to a trailer Thursday in preparation for its transit from Santa Teresa to Las Cruces.(Photo: Robin Zielinski / Sun-News)

"I'm excited," said Jim Harbison, a committee member of the New Mexico Vietnam Veterans War Memorial monument, of the helicopter's arrival in Las Cruces. "The public has been very supportive of our efforts to obtain the helicopter and to get it mounted above the Vietnam monument. Everyone has a good reason to be excited about its arrival; this is not a figment of people's imagination any more. It's here, it's real, and it's going to be tremendous addition to the monument."

Harbison and several Vietnam veterans living in Las Cruces helped transport the helicopter on Thursday. J. Joe Martinez, who proposed the monument to honor Vietnam veterans, said the helicopter was obtained earlier this year from White Sands Missile Range in exchange for a Black Hawk helicopter the committee had acquired.

"They wanted a Black Hawk, apparently so it could be put on display at the White Sands museum," said Martinez. "Obviously, we wanted a Huey for the monument, so we were able to work out the trade."

In March, the Vietnam monument was unveiled and dedicated at Veterans Memorial Park. Martinez promised the Huey would be "flying" above the monument in about a year. Barring any unexpected difficulties in issuing permits to erect the helicopter above the monument, there should be another ceremony in late March to show off the Huey, which became a symbol of U.S. military involvement during the Vietnam War.

Harbison said the Huey to be erected at the monument had a long and distinguished military career. It flew more than 1,000 hours of combat support in medical evacuations, logistical operations, and search and rescue operations from February 1969 through August 1970. It was part of the 1st Aviation Brigade, 268th Combat Aviation Battalion, and was also assigned to the 134th Assault Helicopter Co., and late to the 61st Assault Helicopter Company.

"What is very important to me is that this helicopter is a veteran itself of Vietnam," said Harbison, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served for 27 years, and is a highly decorated combat veteran. "I may have very well flown in this helicopter."

Permits to allow the Huey to be erected above the Vietnam monument are being reviewed by city officials, who are expected to forward the applications to state officials for final review and issuance of the permits. That could be completed in December. Harbison said once permits have been issued, construction can begin on the foundation and steel standard the helicopter will be mounted on. Construction is anticipated to take about four weeks, and the Huey could be installed as soon as mid-January.

"The helicopter will be mounted at a 23-degree down-slope angle, appearing as if it is about to land," Harbison said." It will be 32 feet above the ground, and the top of its tail will be 60 feet off of the ground."

An important consideration in the issuance of a permit is that the helicopter must be able to withstand 100 mph wind gusts. Harbison and Martinez are confident the design of the structure the helicopter will be mounted on will be good.

"We believe it's over-built for safety," Harbison said.

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A Huey is transported from Santa Teresa International Jetport to Las Cruces on Thursday along Interstate 10. The chopper will be further restored and finally place at Veterans Memorial Park.(Photo: Robin Zielinski / Sun-News)

The Huey still needs to be repainted. It arrived in Las Cruces with a primer coat of paint, and Martinez said the helicopter should be painted soon with its final green coat, the Red Cross emblem it will have and any other necessary insignias. Harbison said LED safety lights will be installed on the helicopter.

"When it's finally up, it's going to be an attraction to the park," Martinez said. "It will be very dignified, very distinguishing. It should be something that veterans and residents can take some pride in."

Saturday, the Huey will be featured in the 20th annual Las Cruces Veterans Day Parade. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and will travel a route through downtown Las Cruces.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452, at sramirez@lcsun-news.com, and on Twitter @SteveRamirez6.